Something I learned early on was the necessity of communicating with clients in the way that works best for them. Some prefer email, while others prefer phone calls or texts. Whatever works. Once, long ago, I had a dealer who preferred to communicate by fax machine. The fact that I didn’t have a fax machine […]

Xyte, maker of cloud-based support tools for AV, recently published its midyear 2025 AV Cloud Data Report. I encourage you to read it — it offers some interesting insight into how the AV industry views the cloud. Before I go further, I should put my cards on the table. I’m a strong supporter of cloud-based […]

Yorktel, a New Jersey-based audiovisual systems integrator and managed services provider, said Tuesday it has signed an agreement to merge with Kinly, an AV and unified communications integration firm headquartered in Amsterdam. The deal will combine the companies’ operations, workforces and client bases, creating a firm with more than 1,600 employees in 27 locations serving […]

AVIXA’s InfoComm show used to be the launchpad for every new ProAV product. For decades, brands would either wait until the early summer show to unveil their newest gear or drop their press releases days before the doors opened. Somewhere in the last decade, that shifted to ISE — the European counterpart to InfoComm, co-owned […]

Disguise has rolled out a major update to Ask AId3n, its AI-powered workflow assistant for the company’s Designer Pro platform. The tool, now enhanced with capabilities to automate complex and repetitive tasks, aims to significantly reduce programming time for live events, virtual productions and other high-volume media environments. The update introduces new features that allow […]

I’m shocked that only one display company has been smart enough to buy a media server company. The irony? You can’t have one without the other. Everything else connected to a projector or monitor is optional — not required. But in the case of a media server, a display — whether it’s a projector, LED, […]

THIS IS A PROMOTED POST Every InfoComm, I look forward to the time I get to spend at Sony’s booth. And here’s why: Every year, there’s so much to look at. From the crispest displays to AI-powered PTZ cameras to the ever-popular Spatial Reality Display, I could probably spend a full show day checking out […]

Zebra Technologies Corp. announced it has agreed to acquire Elo Touch Solutions in a $1.3 billion cash deal, a move the company said will expand its reach into self-service technologies and consumer-facing workflows. The deal, expected to close in 2025 pending regulatory approval and other customary conditions, brings together two complementary portfolios with a shared […]

When I talk to my dealers, sometimes I feel like a broken record. It’s certainly true that I have a number of speeches prepared and in the can for situations where the topic is applicable. One of them is that inventory is a necessary evil: You need to sell inventory to make money, but the […]

D-Tools announced it has raised $12 million in a Series C investment round led by John Heyman, former CEO of Snap One, through his newly formed company, StellarIQ. Existing majority investor Greybull Stewardship also participated. The capital infusion is aimed at accelerating D-Tools’ push to become the leading end-to-end software solution for electronic systems contractors. […]

The cloud conversation in ProAV isn’t going anywhere — if anything, it’s heating up. With remote management, diagnostics and interoperability becoming key concerns, cloud-based solutions are taking on a bigger role in the way AV systems are designed, deployed and supported. We want to know where you stand. Are you all-in on the cloud, cautiously […]

Resideo Technologies announced Tuesday it will spin off its ADI Global Distribution business into a separate publicly traded company and pay $1.59 billion to Honeywell International to settle future obligations under an existing indemnification agreement. The spin-off, expected to close in the second half of 2026, will separate Resideo’s two major business units: ADI, a […]

In a world that never stops talking, it’s funny how hard it’s become to get anyone to actually answer the phone. I’ve spent a career helping organizations communicate more clearly — whether that meant running video over fiber across the rooftops of Washington Square Park, rolling out enterprise collaboration platforms or moderating panels about the […]

Sharp didn’t just show up to InfoComm 2025 — they brought a plan, and it paid off. Not only did Sharp win our Best Booth Award, but the company also rolled out an all-new dvLED lineup that turned heads. In this episode, Gary chats with Mark Miller, Sharp’s dvLED product manager, about the latest in […]

By Chuck Brooks Extreme Networks and the Avnu Alliance No matter the application, today’s professional audiovisual (ProAV) networks are responsible for transmitting multiple streams of data — whether audio, video, show control or another crucial element — over shared infrastructure. While we’ve yet to fully move beyond isolated systems, completely converged networking is still rare […]

Part of the reason this post is titled the way it is: I’m nodding to an old aphorism — “complaining without offering a solution is just whining.” And yes, I’ll admit up front that I don’t have a solution for what I’m complaining about. The news this month? Google will no longer support the first- […]

Disguise just raised the bar for live event visuals with the launch of X1, a portable version of its Designer software. Built for creators delivering small-to-medium concerts, theater productions and branded experiences, X1 allows users to run 4K content straight from a laptop — no proprietary media server required. Already battle-tested at Rockfest Germany (Bullet […]

This article features the audiovisual industry’s role in this dramatic trilogy — and serves as a polite wake-up call to the industry and manufacturers. Every great movement in history eventually hits that awkward moment when the hype train pulls into the reality station. Esports is no different. Once the underdog of digital entertainment, it’s now […]

In Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Juliet famously muses, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Lovely sentiment. But Juliet never had to set up a conference room before a board meeting. In the AV industry, names matter. In fact, they often become shorthand for […]

I recently attended a few cybersecurity education sessions at InfoComm 2025. (Yes, there were multiple sessions focused on security — that alone is pretty newsworthy.) During one of the classes, someone in the audience said something along the lines of: Government security regulation isn’t necessary — eventually, the less secure vendors will gain a bad […]

In late May, I did something to my neck and shoulder that caused significant pain. After a few visits to the doctor, they ordered an MRI. MRIs are a fascinating tool in modern medicine that continues to amaze me. However, four weeks later, I’m still in pain and have no answer as to what the […]

In this episode of Rants & rAVes, I spoke with Dan Smith, EVP of Almo Pro AV, following the news that DCC Technology has sold several of its IT-focused businesses in Europe. Dan clears up what this means for the ProAV side of the business — including the fact that Almo Pro AV is not […]

In the middle of an AI hype cycle full of generative tools that mostly generate headlines, a Chinese content platform has built something that actually works — and does something different. It doesn’t generate video from text. It doesn’t edit video, either. It re-shoots your video. Digitally. No camera, no crew, no cost. Kuaishou is […]

Something I’ve observed over the years is that people in the same occupations or career paths often share similar backgrounds and personalities. I know; it’s a chicken-and-egg situation: Do people like that gravitate to the field, or does the work and training shape them into that type? Maybe a little of both. My professional training […]

This month’s Temperature Check Survey is now closed. Keep an eye out for next month’s survey! Immersive experiences are popping up everywhere — from hotel lobbies to lecture halls — and we want to know: who’s doing it best, and what tech is making it happen? This month’s Temperature Check dives into the rise of […]

It’s July, which means InfoComm 2025 was officially last month. The dust has settled, I’ve returned from some much-needed PTO, and I’ve had time to reflect on the show as a whole. If I’m honest, InfoComm was mostly a blur. I was on three panels, gave several VIP tours at my company’s booth, and had […]

Hall Technologies acquired all of the assets of Atlona Inc. Atlona was once the leader in AV distribution but, once purchased by Panduit, seemed to have disappeared. This is a good move for Hall as Atlona’s production line will help their positioning and, for Atlona, this will help them make a ProAV comeback. Ken Eagle, […]

We’ve always approached our Best of InfoComm Awards with one mission: spotlight the products that truly impressed us — the ones with staying power, smart design and real-world value. This year, we did something new. For the first time ever, we accepted submissions. We invited exhibitors to tell us what they were proud of and […]

Disclaimer: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are those of the author and don’t necessarily represent rAVe [PUBS] or its staff. Trade shows are supposed to showcase the best of what this industry has to offer — new innovations, sleek technology and fresh ideas about how to make work and communication better. InfoComm […]

26North Partners has announced an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in AVI-SPL, a global provider of audiovisual and unified communications technologies, from Marlin Equity Partners and other shareholders. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Marlin and select existing shareholders will retain a minority stake in the company. The transaction is expected to […]

There’s an old aphorism — and readers know how much I love those — that goes: If you want to be heard, you must make yourself be understood. A big part of my job is communication: I need to clearly communicate with my dealers, and occasionally with their end-user customers. My workday involves relaying deadlines, […]

Now that InfoComm 2025 has wrapped, those of us in higher education have a lot to reflect on. Between economic pressures, rising equipment costs and continued challenges in delivering flexible learning environments, this year’s conference felt especially important — and in many ways, it delivered. The HETMA Higher Education Summit stood out as a highlight. […]